About Us – Oregon Law Foundation

We fund justice for all: provide legal services, promote diversity, and educate the public.

History

1981

The Oregon Law Foundation was created by the Oregon State Bar to fund law-related charities.

1983

Oregon’s lawyers created a voluntary Interest on Lawyers Trust Accounts (IOLTA) program. IOLTA programs began in Australia and Canada in the early 70’s. The concept was simple: the Foundation asked members of the Bar to convert their non-interest bearing, pooled client trust accounts into interest-bearing accounts, with the interest benefiting the Foundation.

1988

The OLF, the Oregon State Bar, and the Oregon Supreme Court worked together to transform the voluntary IOLTA program into a mandatory one. In November 1988, Oregon lawyers voted 2-1 for mandatory IOLTA, and Oregon’s mandatory IOLTA program began May 1, 1989.

2005

Oregon Banks worked with the OLF to create the Leadership Bank program (now Leadership Banks & Credit Unions) to highlight the generosity of banks that voluntarily pay above-market interest rates on IOLTA.

Staff

Judith Baker

Executive Director

Bill Penn

Assistant Director

Brooke Thacher

Program Coordinator

Laura Greer

Administrative Assistant

Board

David Rosen: President
High Desert Law, LLC
Bend, Oregon
Valerie Colas: President-elect
Oregon Judicial Department
Salem, Oregon
Elise Bouneff: Secretary
Columbia Bank
Portland, Oregon
Randy Compton: Treasurer
Pioneer Trust Bank
Salem, Oregon
Kristen Connor: Heritage Bank
Portland, Oregon
Rima Ghandour: Ghandour Law; Portland, Oregon; Oregon Supreme Court Appointee